I nod, pressing a kiss against his stomach. We went over and over it until everything was iron-clad. I’m not leaving shit up to chance anymore.
“We’re never letting this happen again,” I tell him. “I’m never letting anyone else dictate our relationship or decide how often we get to see each other.”
“I don’t know,” he says quietly. “It still sounds like a dream. You sure they’ll actually ease up on the shows? Leave more time for you all to rest in between shows, and so you can travel to me? Or for me to come to you?”
He’s still hesitant, still scared this is too good to be true. So I turn and guide him with me, gently push him back. I remove the towel and scoot him down until I can stretch out on top of this stunning man. My legs slot between his, my forearms resting on his incredible chest.
“I’m sure,” I say, voice soft but steady. “You see, Tyler baby, there’s one key difference between this tour and the last.”
“And that is?” he asks, eyes searching mine.
“I’m the star now instead of Mick.Iown the damn show. The tour ismine. Mine and my band’s. If they don’t meet us halfway, they’re gonna find out just how much of a diva I can be.”
His lips twitch in a half-smile, and I lean in, brushing mine over his stubbled jaw, welcoming the slight burn.
“Plus,” I add, “they’re scared shitless I’ll start talking. Thatwe’llstart talking. About Mick. About what really went down. Ev, Bowie, they’ve got stories too. The label knows it. I’ve got leverage now, and I’m going to use it. I couldn’t do that before...” I press a kiss to his nose. “I let them get away with too much because I didn’t want to lose everything. But that’s over now.”
“And what about during the season?” he asks, his fingers brushing my ribs, making me shudder. “When I’m traveling, training, deep in game weeks…?”
I grin. “Sounds like a fun challenge to me. Sneaking into your hotel room wherever you are? I’m in.”
“I think they have rules about that.”
“I was never one for rules.” I shift closer and let out a small moan, our legs tangled now, groins pressed together. “This first tour? It was an eye-opener. I’m never doing it like that again.”
He watches me for a beat, eyes soft, the tension already dwindling. “You really are good now, aren’t you?”
And I see it there, plain as day, and I know that that look is reflected in my own. It’s a limitless love, an unrestricted love, an endless love.
It’sourlove.
And I know, know it with every breath I take and every breath after, that he’s my person. The one I’ll grow old with. Until we’ve got wrinkled asses and he’s complaining I need to shop for a hearing aid because the music was too damn loud at my shows. Until the end of us.
He’s mine forever. And I’m his.
After the year we had, that truth rings louder than any song.
I kiss him on a nod, my lips moving across his, slow and deliberate, tongue flicking against his with practiced ease. A groan escapes him every time the stud in my mouth drags against that sensitive spot beneath his tongue.
My fingers curl in the brown strands, holding on so tight, because Ineverwant to let go. The promise I gave him feels like a live wire between us these past few weeks.Ask me once the deportation isn’t hanging over our heads.
Well, that’s settled now. Has been for a couple of damn weeks. And I want to say it. Scream it.Ask me. Ask me. Ask me.Ask me the damn question.
I don’t know how much longer I can keep bottling it up, keep it in, because IknowI’m ready. Really ready.
Shit, he’s right, we’re young. We’re inexperienced. But who the fuck cares, right? He’s my forever-person.
I know the fucker’s aware of my thoughts. I see it in the little smiles, the knowing glint in his eyes. I see it when he catches me staring, then opens his mouth just to ask something stupid, like whether I know where the phone chargers disappeared to.
I have this gut feeling there’s something he needs to do first. Something he has to overcome before he’ll ask. And I also have this gut feeling I know exactly what it is.
But that’s okay. I’ll be here. Waiting. Forever, if he needs me to. Since I canstay.
I kiss him again, slower this time, grinding against him with each unhurried slide of our lips. His answering moan is fucking exhilarating. I need him mellow, loose, his nerves softened and quiet. And I think I’m getting there.
But I’ve got a plan.
“I love you, babe,” I murmur against his mouth, kicking his knees apart, grabbing one to hook his leg around my waist. “So fucking much.”
